"Salvation is of the LORD." -Jonah 2:9

"We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." -I John 2:1 [KJV]   This advocacy is here called, as elsewhere, "pleading the cause"  of the believer, and is connected with deliverance, for such an Advocate can never fail: "O Lord, Thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; Thou hast redeemed my life" (Lamentations 3:58) . The figure is taken from a lawyer pleading the cause of a criminal, and using his best endeavours to bring him off uninjured. But such advocacy may fail for two reasons:  1. The incompetency of the advocate; or  2. The badness of the cause.  But there are no such hindrances to the success of the advocacy of Christ. How He can plead His own sufferings, blood, and obedience. His very Person as the Son of God, and yet Son of man, gives unspeakable value and validity to every plea of the great Intercessor. What validity, then, has His intercession in the court of heaven!  It is true that He cannot deny the ...

"Whose I am, and whom I serve." -Acts 27:23 [KJV] Here is a delightful subject for an evening meditation, if, like the apostle, who thus expressed himself, a child of God can take up the same words, and from the same well-grounded authority. Paul was in the midst of a storm, with not only the prospect, but the certainty of shipwreck before him, when he thus reposed himself in his covenant relations. An angel had informed him of what would happen; and had bidden him to be of good courage. But Paul's chief confidence arose from the consideration of whose property he was, and whose service he was engaged in . See to it, my soul, that thy assurance be the same; then thy security in every dark night will be the same also. For if thou art Jesus' property, depend upon it, thou wilt be Jesus' care. Hath Jesus bought thee with His blood; made thee His by grace; and hast thou voluntarily given up thyself to Him in a covenant not to be broken? Hath the Lord spok...

"Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every Spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God." -I John 4:2 [KJV] “You study too much, it will kill you,” says one and another. What! the study of Christ, who is the life, health, and joy of the soul, kill one? Precious death, to die in such sweet exercise. It is only to fall asleep in Jesus and awake with Him in glory. I am sure, (through grace) this delightful study will kill the life of sense, the power of sin, and the delusion of Satan. Christ help us to study Him more and more. The apostle here warns us against false spirits, which are not of God. He bids us believe not every spirit, but try them. For many false prophets are gone out under a spirit of delusion. We are in danger of being deceived by them. Here is a fixed rule to know whether they are of God or not.  (1st.) Know ye the Spirit of God. Many pretend to have received Him: to preach by His inspiration: to glory in ecstasies of com...

  Amazing love, how rich and free, That God would give His grace to me; Forgive all my iniquity, And save my soul eternally. Redeeming love, amazing grace, That Christ would come to take my place; To bear my sin and then to die, The law’s demands to satisfy.   Amazing love, how can it be, That Christ would die on Calvary? For by that death He ransomed me, From condemnation I am free. Redeeming love, surpassing thought, The work of grace my Lord has wrought; He drank the cup of justice dry, To save my soul and justify.   Amazing love remains my theme, For in that bloody, crimson stream, My sin and guilt were washed away, When Jesus died my debt to pay. Redeeming love will be my song, When I shall join the heavenly throng: Then gathered round His throne above, We’ll sing of His amazing love.   -Gospel Hymn, “Sweet Hour of Prayer" LM/double Words by Jim Byrd     --------------   SALVATION IS BY GOD’S CHOICE      “For ye see your cal...

  The sovereignty of God is absolute.  To acknowledge this truth is at once to acknowledge that God has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass; that nothing else can come to pass; that predestination is a fact; that God does rule in the kingdoms of men; that all human ties, bonds and relationships are divinely appointed and formed; that salvation is by God’s grace and His grace alone; and that no part of man’s salvation is of himself either in origin or execution.  Where men get the idea that man’s will is the all-determining factor or moving cause of his salvation is hard to see. Certainly, they do not get it from the bible.  -preacher Scott Richardson

Behold the Marvelous Power  of God's Sovereign free Grace!   "Lord, remember me, when Thou comest into Thy kingdom." -Luke 23:42 [KJV] When Joseph had interpreted the chief butler’s dream, how pathetically does he plead with him! Think of me, when it shall be well with thee (Genesis  40:14.) But, alas! such is the base ingratitude of man, all was in vain. When restored to his dignity at court, he thought no more of poor Joseph in prison. Exalted stations often elevate the mind above feeling for the distressed. But it is not so with the King of kings. He is ever the Friend of poor sinners. He remembers us in our low estate. Behold! for us He now hangs on the accursed tree, between two cursed sinners. One was taken, the other left. See your own state in both. Behold the marvellous power of the Lord’s sovereign grace in one!  Consider, (1st) Here is a reviler of Jesus changed into a petitioner to Him. There was no alteration in any outward circumstances. Al...

"And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our Father; for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham ." - Matthew 3:9 [KJV] Precious are the doctrines contained in the bosom of this most blessed scripture! May the almighty Author of His own holy word, open to me, this evening, some of the many divine things contained in it. And first, my soul, remark that the blessing to Abraham and to his seed was not through the law. He is not a jew that is one outwardly. The blood of nature which ran through Abrabam's veins, had no respect to the grace which was planted in Abraham's heart. If ye be Christ's, is the relationship, for then the Holy Ghost beareth witness ye are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. No Ishmaels, no sons of Keturah, not of the bond-women, but of the free. And what a sweet thought it is also to consider, that as God called Abraham when an idolater, so now the ...